Anoub

Abba Anoub, also known as Anoub of Scetis or Anoubius, was an Egyptian Eastern Orthodox Christian Saint, ascetic and anchorite who lived during the 4th and 5th centuries in Scetis (''sometimes spelled Sketis''), Lower Egypt (''modern day Wadi El Natrun''). Abba Anoub is mentioned in the ''Sayings of the Desert Fathers'', also called the ''Apophthegmata'' or the ''Gerontikon''. Saint Nikolaj Velimirović says, "Anoubius was one of the great Egyptian monks." Abba Anoub was one of the Desert Fathers.

Verse: ''"Anoub performed signs and died gracefully, as one alive he hitherto shows forth to be living."''

Life

Anoub was one of the seven blood-brothers of Poemen, along with Paësius. Poemen was their elder, although Anoub was the eldest by age. It is said that prior to his tonsure as a monk, Anoub was persecuted as a Christian. "He suffered much for the true Faith."

After the first attack of Scetis by the Mazices barbarians from 407 to 408 AD which led to the diaspora of the monks, the seven brothers moved to the ancient city of Terenuthis (''modern day Al-Tarrānah in the Western Delta''), Lower Egypt, at which point Abba Anoub assumed leadership of the new monastic settlement. They created a cenobitic community in Terenuthis, where they temporarily occupied a former pagan temple. According to Sister Benedicta Ward:

The Devastation of Scetis marks a turning point in the history of early monasticism in Egypt; the monks dispersed, and gradually the centre shifted from Egypt to Palestine. This story of Anoub and his brothers indicates a new reason for the formation of cenobitic communities, that is, protection against invaders.

It was said that Abba Anoub and his brothers kept a strict ascesis in which they devoted all their time to either prayer or manual labor, leaving only four hours a night to sleep. Abba Anoub reposed peacefully in the second half of the fifth century.

Sayings

* Abba Anoub said, ''"Since the day when the name of Christ was invoked upon me'' t_baptism.html"_;"title="baptism.html"_;"title="t_baptism">t_baptism">baptism.html"_;"title="t_baptism">t_baptism',_no_lie_has_come_out_of_my_mouth."''_
*_Once_Abba_Anoub_desired_to_remain_in_silence_among_his_brothers,_saying,_''"For_love's_sake_do_this:_let_each_of_us_live_in_quietness,_each_one_by_himself,_without_meeting_one_another_the_whole_week."''_
*_''"For_if_a_man_attains_to_the_measure_of_this_saying,_such_that_he_acquires_purity_and_sees_the_sins_of_his_brother,_he_succeeds,_by_the_power_of_his_virtue,_in_swallowing_overlooking_them._He_who_reproaches_himself_justifies_his_neighbor,_and_this_righteousness_conceals_his_neighbor’s_sins."''_
*_Abba_Poemen_said_of_Abba_Anoub_after_his_death,_"''We_lived_together_in_complete_unity_and_unbroken_peace_till_death_broke_up_our_association."''_
*_Abba_Anoub_said_to_another_monk,_''"If_a_man_really_affirms_this_saying,_when_he_sees_his_brother's_faults_he_sees_that_his_integrity_exceeds_his_faults."''_The_brother_said,_''"What_is_integrity?"''_The_old_man_replied,_''"Always_to_accuse_himself."''_

__Stories_

The_following_story_was_related_about_Abba_Anoub._When_the_seven_brothers_had_fled_from_the_invasion_of_Scetis,_they_stayed_temporarily_in_an_abandoned_pagan_temple._Every_morning,_Abba_Anoub_would_throw_stones_at_a_statue_in_the_temple,_and_every_evening_he_would_say_to_the_statue,_"Forgive_me!"_When_Abba_Poemen_asked_him_why_he_acted_in_such_a_way,_he_said,_"I_did_this_for_your_sake._When_you_saw_me_throwing_stones_at_the_face_of_the_statue,_did_it_speak,_or_did_it_become_angry?"_Abba_Poemen_said,_"No."_Thus_Abba_Anoub_continued,_"Or_again,_when_I_bent_down_in_penitence,_was_it_moved,_and_did_it_say,_'I_will_not_forgive_you?'"_Again_Abba_Poemen_answered_"No."_Then_the_old_man_resumed,_"Now_we_are_seven_brethren;_if_you_wish_us_to_live_together,_let_us_be_like_this_statue,_which_is_not_moved_whether_one_beats_it_or_whether_one_flatters_it._If_you_do_not_wish_to_become_like_this,_there_are_four_doors_here_in_the_temple,_let_each_one_go_where_he_will."_The_seven_brothers_decided_to_remain_together_and_to_follow_Abba_Anoub's_words.

Another_time,_Abba_Anoub's_brother,_Abba_Paësius,_said_to_him,_"You_know_how_austerely_Abba_Poemen_talks;_come,_let_us_establish_a_monastery_somewhere_else,_and_let_the_two_of_us_remain_there,_without_cares."_Abba_Paësius_showed_him_a_small_chest_of_gold_with_which_they_could_start_a_monastery._Anoub_knew_that_his_brother's_greed_could_lead_him_to_destruction,_but_rather_than_admonish_him_harshly,_Anoub_pretended_to_agree_with_him_and_go_with_him,_offering_to_hold_the_chest_of_gold_during_their_journey._Yet_when_they_crossed_the_river,_Anoub_feigned_that_he_had_lost_his_balance_and_dropped_the_gold_in_the_river,_losing_all_of_it._Then_Paësius_said_to_him:_"Do_not_be_distressed,_Abba;_for,_since_the_coins_have_been_lost,_we_can_return_to_our_brother."_They_returned_and_lived_in_peace._Thus,_Abba_Anoub_worked_to_hide_the_sins_of_others_and_save_them.

Before_Abba_Anoub's_death,_three_aged_hermits_visited_him._He,_being_a_clairvoyant,_revealed_to_them_the_secrets_of_their_hearts.

__Sources_about_Anoub_

*_The_Sayings_of_the_Desert_Fathers_

The_''Sayings_of_the_Desert_Fathers''_(_la,_Apophthegmata_Patrum_Aegyptiorum;__el,_ἀποφθέγματα_τῶν_πατέρων,_translit=Apophthégmata_tōn_Patérōn)_is_the_name_given_to_various_textual_collections_consisting_of_stories_and__...